BSF Learning Research Consultant at Tetra Tech International International Development Company

Request for Proposal

Action Learning Research on the Use of Food Waste for Black Soldier Fly (BSF) Farming.

Project Background

LINKS  Catalysing Economic Growth for Northern Nigeria, works to promote the development of a vibrant and diversified economy in the three key northern Nigerian states of Kano, Kaduna, and Jigawa, with these collectively acting as a powerful engine of northern economic growth.

LINKS builds on the successful suite of GEMS programmes funded by the UK Government between 2010 and 2017. Our work will benefit the states themselves, while also creating real market opportunities for the wider North, counterbalancing the wealth and investment now primarily found in Lagos and the South.

Ultimately, the programme focuses on increasing incomes and creating jobs for the poor in Northern Nigeria. LINKS works across high potential propoor value chains, supporting them to become productive, competitive and attractive for investment, and as a result, attract actual investment.

The frontline components of LINKS activities are (1) investment promotion and facilitation and (2) private sector innovations that increase competitiveness, productivity and transformational economic inclusivity. Two further supporting components will address (3) business environment challenges impacting investment and innovation, and (4) Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL).

About BSF Farming Initiative

LINKS sees an opportunity to promote a new innovative technique that has the potential to be transformative in two seemingly unrelated markets – organic food waste, and fish/poultry production. The use of new techniques around Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae production can help valorize organic food waste (creating jobs and simultaneously reducing contamination in other waste recycling) and at the same time can reduce the costs of feed for fish and poultry farmers (increasing incomes). However, this potentially transformational business model is untested in the context of Northern Nigeria’s fish and poultry production. There are numerous unknowns including: 1) the accessibility of the required quantities of food waste and the best method for its collection for BSF larvae production; 2) the efficiency of BSF larvae as feed for fish and poultry production in the Northern Nigeria Context; and 3) the willingness of Northern farmers to switch from conventional feeds to BSF.

LINKS has planned an action learning research on BSF farming in Kaduna and Jigawa. The action learning research will include partnership with a poultry farmer and a fish farmer whose farms will be used for the research in the research locations

Purpose:

LINKS is seeking a short term BSF farming consultant to coordinate the action learning research in Kaduna and Jigawa/Kano States. The short term BSF farming consultant will collaborate with both LINKS and the partner farmers in conducting the action learning research.

Responsibilities /Deliverables:

The consultant is expected to perform the following key tasks:

• Prepare a detailed workplan for his/her activities for the BSF action learning research.
• Prepare training material and manual for the action learning research. The manual will focus on construction of BSF farm; categories of food waste used in BSF farming; food waste collection methods; BSF farming procedure, including larvae harvesting; and feeding procedure for fish and poultry with BSF larvae.
• Conduct a 2week food waste analysis or audit in Kaduna and Jigawa, or Kaduna and Kano to determine the availability and accessibility of food waste in the states.
• Construct BSF production facilities in the poultry and fish farms that will be used in the action learning research. This will include the BSF farming structure, food waste grinder, BSF starter eggs and logistics (transportation of equipment to the facilities). There will be 1 BSF production facility for each poultry or fish farm chosen for the action learning research and a maximum of 4 farms are requested for the research.
• Coordinate the food waste collection pilot exercises in the chosen states and train the farmers’ workforce on the categories of food waste used in BSF farming and the best method of food waste collection.
• Conduct practical training for the partner farmers and/or their workforce in the following areas: construction of BSF farm; BSF farming procedure, including larvae production, nursing and harvesting; and feeding procedure (feed mixing) for fish and poultry with BSF larvae.
• Provide BSF farming information to the documentation (videography and photography) vendor as at when required to enable the vendor to prepare an adequate documentation of the whole action learning research process.
• Supervise the partner farmers’ workforce in documenting the whole action learning process and filling the monitoring log on daily basis (this will include the cost of all operations, feeding rates, weight of birds and fish, and other observations).
• Coordinate with other poultry and fish farmers in the research states, either through farmers association or individually to invite them for BSF awareness meetings, elicit their buyin and anchor demand for the BSF larvae.
• Speak to the invited farmers during BSF awareness meetings and provide expert information to the farmers in relation to BSF farming and BSF larvae utilization as alternative animal feed.
• Work closely with LINKS’ GESI team to identify any barriers to the inclusion of women and people with disabilities in BSF Farming, as well as work towards addressing the barriers, if any.
• Work closely with the partner farmers to understand any challenges that may come up during the action learning research and seek to address such challenges.
• Work closely with LINKS’ intervention manager and intervention coordinator and perform other duties that may be requested by them for the sole purpose of the action learning research.

Consultancy period: February 2021 to August 2021

Tasks for achieving the activity

Budget Items

1.     Electronic and editable training material

        a.  Submission of training material.

2.    a. 50 days consultancy fees

        b. 50 days subsistence for out of station work

          Invoices for input on food waste audit, construction of BSF production facilities, food waste collection pilot and BSF training campaigns in Kaduna and Jigawa/Kano

    3   a.Construction of 4 BSF production facilities

           Receipts of purchased materials and photos of the BSF production                  facilities.                                      

    4.     Hiring of wheelbarrows for the food waste collection exercise

 .          Receipt of the rented wheelbarrows.

Budget should include the following:

• Fees and expenses should be detailed separately. Fees per person, per day should be reflected clearly.
• Payment terms and delivery time.

Submission of Proposal

Individuals/companies should provide specific information that demonstrates that they are fully qualified to perform or provide the services. The request for proposals should include (1) technical and financial proposals (2) a cover letter detailing relevant past work experience and/or lead trainer’s CV, (3) CAC and tax registration certificates (4) The Due Diligence form (to be completed after reading through the attached Code of Conduct document) and submit along with your Proposal. You are invited to include additional information not requested below if believed to be useful and applicable to this request for proposal.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in poultry or fish farming and BSF farming.
• Experience of working in Northern Nigeria, particularly on poultry/fish and       BSF farming.
• Previous experience in BSF farming training is essential
• Ability to work with and communicate with public and private stakeholders.
• Membership of a poultry/fish farmers association is desirable.
• Understanding of gender and disability inclusion is encouraged.
• Fluency in Hausa and English languages is compulsory.